The Chittagong pitch used in the drawn first Test also received a ‘below average’ rating, but that was due to the batsman-friendly nature of the pitch rather than any extreme deterioration.

That match saw 1533 runs scored for the loss of just 24 wickets.

It’s led the ICC to hand both venues one demerit point, which will remain active for a rolling five-year period.

Players stunned by embarrassing dropped catch

If during this time the venue reaches the threshold of five demerit points, it will be suspended from staging any international cricket for 12 months.

“From day one, there was evidence of the ball breaking the pitch surface,” ICC match referee Andy Pycroft said of the pitch in Dhaka.

“(It) resulted in uneven bounce throughout the match, along with inconsistent turn, which was even excessive at times.

“This pitch produced a contest that was too heavily skewed in favour of the bowlers, and didn’t give the batsmen a fair chance to display their skills.”

Last September, the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium pitch also received a below average rating for the Test between Bangladesh and Australia and the outfield was rated ‘poor’, but the demerit point system was only introduced by the ICC from January 1 this year.

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